Reserves Preview: Portland hosts San Jose Reserves

This afternoon, the Portland Timbers will take on the San Jose Earthquakes with a near capacity crowd expected in a MLS Reserve League match at 6pm PT at JELD-WEN Field (Webstream at www.portlandtimbers.com). Tickets are $10 general admission and available at the JELD-WEN Field Box Office.

The Timbers Reserves are coming off a 4-2 win over the Chivas USA Reserves at JELD-WEN Field on July 29. Forward Bright Dike scored a hat trick for the Timbers, including two goals in the first half. Midfielder Sal Zizzo also added a goal, his first of the 2012 MLS Reserve League season.

The Earthquakes Reserves recently beat Seattle Sounders FC Reserves 3-0 on August 12 in San Jose. After a scoreless first half, three different San Jose players scored. Midfielder Mehdi Ballouchy recorded two assists in the Earthquakes’ victory.

Sunday’s match will be the second meeting between the two Reserves squads this season. Way back on March 27 in California, San Jose beat Portland 1-0 in both team’s first Reserve League match of the season. Forward Jean-Marc Alexandre scored the only goal of the game for San Jose.

Here’s a look at some key players that could feature in this evening's match:

PortlandFreddie Braun – Braun (above) is one of only two players (defender Ryan Kawulok being the other) who have started all seven games for the Timbers Reserves this season. The second-year player, who played with the Timbers U-23s in 2010, has appeared in three MLS games for Portland in 2012. The midfielder has also appeared in both exhibition matches against Spanish club Valencia CF and English side Aston Villa FC.

Andrew Jean-Baptiste – The rookie defender recently was called back into Portland after completing a five-week stint on loan with the L.A. Blues of USL Pro. While in L.A., Jean-Baptiste played in eight matches, helping the team to four shutouts, as well. The former University of Connecticut standout has played in four MLS matches this season for Portland, and scored his first professional goal against the Philadelphia Union on March 12. He’s played in four Reserve League games in 2012, and tallied one goal.

San JoseSercan Guvenisik – The 32-year-old forward from Turkey has established himself during the 2012 MLS Reserve League. In four Reserves matches, Guvenisik has scored two goals and recorded an assist. He scored the loan goal for the Earthquakes Reserves against the LA Galaxy on May 8, and assisted on Cesar Diaz Pizarro’s goal in the first minute against Chivas USA on May 14.

David Bingham – Bingham has been very good at goal for San Jose during the Reserve League season. Starting five of six games for the club, Bingham has only allowed four goals. In his second season with the Earthquakes, Bingham has appeared in three MLS matches in 2012 with two starts. The 22-year-old started at goal for San Jose’s first team against the Timbers on July 3 at JELD-WEN Field. Portland won that game 2-1.

Game Notes

In two meetings with the San Jose Reserves in 2011, Portland went 2-0-0. The first meeting, a 2-1 Portland victory, came at JELD-WEN Field on June 21, 2011. On August 7, 2011 in San Jose, Portland won 2-0. Timbers forward Bright Dike scored the insurance goal for the Timbers.

The Timbers Reserves currently sit in fourth place in the MLS Reserve League standings, with a record of 3-3-1 (10pts). San Jose is in fifth place, with a record of 2-2-2 (8pts).

Portland’s leading scorer of the 2012 Reserve League is Bright Dike. After his hat trick against the Reserves of Chivas USA on July 29, Dike has five goals in five appearances in 2012. Midfielder Charles Renken leads the team with two assists, however, seven different Timbers players have recorded an assist during the 2012 MLS Reserve League season.